Renault expect Alonso to stay

Eurosport - Fri, 10 Jul 15:28:00 2009

Renault chief executive Carlos Ghosn expects double world champion Fernando Alonso to stay next season despite rumours linking the Spaniard to Ferrari.

2009 British GP Renault Alonso - 0

"As far as I am concerned, he'll be driving a Renault next year," Ghosn told Europe 1 radio.

The Italian and Spanish media have been full of stories about Alonso moving to Formula One's most successful team as a replacement for Finland's 2007 world champion Kimi Raikkonen.

Both Raikkonen and Brazilian Felipe Massa have contracts with the Maranello team until the end of next season, however, and Ferrari have dismissed the reports as mere speculation.

Alonso, who won both his titles with Renault, was also in dismissive mood when asked about the reports at the German Grand Prix.

"They are only rumours. They have been happening in the last four or five years," he said, denying he had a Ferrari contract or had been talking to the Italian team.

"We are not even at the halfway point of the season here. We are in the beginning of July and normally after the summer it is time to talk with people - if you are interested in something outside of your team.

"I am very happy with Renault. I think we will do a much better second half of the season than has been the first half, and we will see how is the evolution of the car and what we can do for next year.

"Obviously everything is open, but there is no hurry at the moment."

Ferrari's denials cut little ice in the paddock, those with long memories recalling a similar response from the team about Michael Schumacher in 1995 until the German joined from Benetton, Renault's predecessors, for 1996.

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Reuters

Comment 1 - 15 of 15

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  1. Its simple, if Renault wants to keep Alonso, they need­ to delivery a fast F1 car. The majority of racers would­ move on to another team with a better car, these guys­ want to win races.

    From Elsy, on Sat 11 Jul 7:52AM

  2. OH YEAH, ALONSO WILL GO TO FERRARI, THE TWO ARE PERFECT­ FOR EACH OTHER, ITS JUST THAT RENAULT CAN'T ACCEPT­ THE FACT THAT ALONSO IS LEAVING AGAIN, BUT THIS TIME HE­ WON'T COME BACK BECAUSE ALL P=R=I=C=K=S SEEM TO­ STAY TOGETHER. ONCE ALONSO LEAVES RENAULT, RENAULT WILL­ WITHDRAW FROM F1, BECAUSE NO GOOD DRIVER WANTS TO DRIVE­ FOR THEM. WHY DO YOU THINK RENAULT WITHDRAW FROM F1 AT­ THE END OF 1985, SIMPLY BECAUSE NO GOOD DRIVER WANTED­ TO DRIVE FOR RENAULT AFTER PROST LEFT FOR MCLAREN. THE­ SAD THING AT THE END OF 1982 RENAULT SHOULD HAVE KEPT­ RENE ARNOUX INSTEAD FO FAVOURING PROST OVER ARNOUX.­ THIS ALSO MAYBE THE FACT THAT BOTH RED BULL TEAMS­ HAVEN'T ANNOUNCED THEIR ENGINES FOR NEXT YEAR,­ SIMPLY ACCESSING IF RENAULT WILL CONTINUE IN THE SPORT.­ THE FERRARI LINE UP NEXT YEAR WILL READ, NO 1 DRIVER­ FERNANDO ALONSO, NO 2 DRIVER FELIPE MASSA, NO 3 RESERVE­ DRIVER SEBASTIEN BUEMI, AND ALL DEAD WEIGHT OF THE TEAM­ WILL BE EJECTED, DRIVER KIMI RAIKKONEN, AND MANAGER­ ASSISTANT MICHAEL SCHUMACHER, WHILE MARC GENE HAS­ RESIGNED AND MOVED INTO RETIREMENT.

    From David, on Sat 11 Jul 5:33AM

  3. yer read it . still think he will moan. its a good job­ he has not got a fast team mate. watch that dummy fly.

    From William S, on Fri 10 Jul 11:15PM

  4. Art, I doubt if FA would drive for a brass farthing­ and a half share in a whippet.

    From the real adrian, on Fri 10 Jul 10:56PM

  5. Renault may be expecting him to stay, but what will­ really happen I wonder?

    From Only Human After All, on Fri 10 Jul 10:53PM

  6. If Alonso had any sense he would sign up with a team­ with some proper 'Yorkshire' values like Manor­ Motorsport, the only person who thinks Alonso should be­ in a Ferrari is Alonso's greedy agent Flabio­ Briatore :-)

    From arttidesco, on Fri 10 Jul 9:56PM

  7. I think Liverpool have more chance of keeping their­ Alonso than Renault lol

    From liam, on Fri 10 Jul 6:04PM

  8. Ape what the hell are you doing making a humorous post?­ I gave you a thumbs up there my man.

    From Francis Sterling, on Fri 10 Jul 5:34PM

  9. "he will always moan . he is never happy alway­ doom­ and gloom." oh yeah he really looks doom­ and gloom........how about reading the article ? Is he­ also moaning ?

    From hd-rockerstuff, on Fri 10 Jul 5:25PM
  10. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    a gain a mr a hamilton asun ruunung a light onna Fuel­ anda having toa use a next a years a upgrades again a­ muclaren a willa be playing a catch up a next a season­ having a no a new car a having a already a used it Mr a­ hamilton asun willa collect 0 points a this a weekend­ itta make a me a very a Happy
    BUTTON F1 WORLD CHAMPION­ 2009-2010.....mr a hamilton asun the a forgotten a man­ anda bigger the cheat

    From , on Fri 10 Jul 5:22PM

  11. Spanish papers announced today that Alonso is getting­ cloned so he can drive two Ferrari next year.!

    From Ape, on Fri 10 Jul 4:21PM
  12. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    he will always moan . he is never happy alway doom­ and gloom.

    From William S, on Fri 10 Jul 1:55PM

  13. Marcel it might be before that.

    From johnnywns, on Fri 10 Jul 1:18PM
  14. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Bye, bye Renault.

    Hi, Ferrari.

    From Mike, on Fri 10 Jul 1:12PM
  15. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    If there is going to be an announcement it will surely­ be at Monza, not Germany.

    From , on Fri 10 Jul 12:59PM
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